TAC Health & Employee Benefits Pool

In April, we are focusing on Lung Health & Tobacco Cessation.

We rarely think about breathing, except when we have trouble doing so. If you take care of your lungs, they will take care of you!

What do lungs do?

• Move fresh air into our body, while removing waste gases.
• They protect our body from harmful substances by coughing, sneezing, filtering or swallowing them.
• They help carry mucous upward and out into your throat, where it is coughed up or swallowed.
• They support our sense of smell.

There are things that we can do to protect our lungs and maintain overall health and well-being:

• Regular Exercise makes your lungs and heart stronger.
• Breathing Exercises can make your lungs more efficient, especially if you are living with a chronic lung disease.
• Vaccines prevent diseases that are spread from person to person.
• Avoid exposure to air pollutants.
  • Monitor indoor air quality (secondhand smoke, chemicals in the home and workplace, mold, and radon)
  • Monitor outdoor air pollution (avoid exercising outdoors on bad air days, avoid exercising near high traffic areas and don’t burn wood or trash)
• Get regular check-ups to help prevent diseases.
• Don’t smoke!

Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions a person can do to improve their health. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in our country.

Did you know?

• Minutes after quitting your heart rate drops.
• 1-2 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
• In the years after quitting, your risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancers drop drastically.

What is BCBS doing?

• The Well onTarget platform is available with self-directed and interactive courses to help members focus on behavioral health changes for a healthier lifestyle. Some topics include:
  • Quitting Tobacco
  • Staying Tobacco Free
  • Living with Asthma
  • Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Learn to Live, a digital mental health platform, can help members address anxiety or stress that may come with quitting smoking or navigating a lung health diagnosis.
• BCBS Community Connect articles are available focusing on lung health topics & tobacco cessation: https://connect.bcbstx.com
  • https://connect.bcbstx.com/health-and-wellness/b/weblog/posts/lung-cancer-screening
  • https://connect.bcbstx.com/understanding-benefits/b/weblog/posts/self-management-programs-quitting-tobacco-and-staying-tobacco-free

Sources:

• American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/how-lungs-work
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/about/benefits-of-quitting.html